2023 Usseglio Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvee Imperiale

"What a great 2023 Chateauneuf-du-Pape this is. Enormously deep and concentrated but also refined, with a slew of floral aromas alongside perfectly ripe red fruit. Then comes the breathtaking finish in which structure and delicacy are precisely matched, and it just doesn’t want to stop. 92% grenache from vines planted in 1901 and 1902, with a small amount of white grape varieties inter-planted. Matured exclusively in concrete tanks. Bottled unfiltered. Drinkable now, but best from 2026."

"In 2023, we are essentially in a very "classic" year, not so dissimilar to, say, 2007, because it combines a lot of excitement and drinkability with great ripeness. It was a warm year, but not quite as hot as 2022 or 2019, which made the wines smoother and a bit more drinkable. I personally like that very much. Furthermore, the tannin quality is fantastic. The blend is always based on around 90 percent Grenache and a small remainder of Mourvedre, Syrah, and Cinsault, which are mixed plantings in this plot. The Grenache is up to 100 years old. Around 20 percent was whole-bunch fermented in 2023, the rest is destemmed. Fermentation and aging take place entirely in special cylindrical cement tanks. The wine has never seen wood."

“The sexy 2023 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée Impériale Vignes Centenaires unwinds with pronounced orange blossom, wild strawberry, black cherry, dried herbs and a suggestion of licorice. Leafy subtleties add more complexity and freshness. Boasting elevated flavor concentration kept in check by bright acidity, the full-bodied 2023 bundles ample energy and checks out with persistence on the layered finale. ” Drink 2028 - 2041